Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051603008595869
The day after Maho Shirasaki publicly declared her feelings for me.
The moment I walked into the classroom, I could feel the stares of everyone around me—they were strangely intense.
“Good morning, Kasugai.”
“Good morning.”
The male student who spoke to me glanced toward the hallway before even responding to my greeting.
There was no one there.
“What’s up?”
“Oh, I just noticed you’re not with that underclassman girl today.”
“That underclassman?”
“Shirasaki from the student council. I heard she openly declared she likes you, Kasugai.”
“How did that get spread all over the school?”
“Someone said he heard it from a track and field person at the coffee shop yesterday.”
I had way too many suspects in mind.
I set my bag down at my desk and looked toward the back of the classroom.
Natsume, who isn’t in my class, obviously isn’t here. But if she used her connections in the track and field club, it would be possible for her to spread a rumor throughout the school in half a day.
I took out my smartphone and sent Natsume a short message.
“Did you tell anyone about Shirasaki?”
The reply came back in less than a minute.
“I only told one best friend!”
“Who’s that best friend?”
“I only shared it with the track and field group!”
“You’re spreading it to everyone, aren’t you?”
“But it’s good publicity for Kasugai being popular, right?”
I don’t remember asking for any publicity.
“Kasugai-kun.”
I closed my smartphone to find Himuro standing right in front of me.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. Have you heard from Shirasaki since then?”
“Since then?”
“Since your announcement yesterday.”
“I don’t have her contact info, so of course not.”
“I see.”
Himuro’s expression brightened slightly.
“In that case, there’s no need to exchange contact info in the future, is there?”
“We might need it for student council work.”
“Work-related communications can be handled entirely through the Student Council’s shared group chat.”
“I’m not in that group, though.”
“I will relay all necessary information to you.”
“Isn’t it more of a hassle to go through you, Himuro?”
“It’s not a hassle.”
Her reply was immediate.
“I will respond promptly to any questions from Kasugai-kun, regardless of the time of day.”
“Even in the middle of the night?”
“Yes.”
“Go to sleep.”
“If there’s a chance Kasugai-kun might contact me, I’ll stay awake.”
“That’s going to mess up your daily life, isn’t it?”
When I pointed that out, Himuro pursed her lips in displeasure.
Ever since Shirasaki voiced her feelings, Himuro’s words and actions have clearly changed.
Before, even when she got close to me, she’d explain it away as a sense of solidarity between fellow heartbreakers.
But now, she doesn’t even bother hiding her intention to keep Shirasaki away from me.
Still, I felt it would be wrong to ask if she liked me.
Until very recently, Himuro had harbored feelings for President Kuze for three years.
Right after a breakup, people tend to be emotionally unstable. It’s not unusual to temporarily become dependent on someone who’s been kind to you.
She’s just reacting to Shirasaki’s declaration—if I jump to the conclusion that this is romantic feelings, I’ll only make Himuro uncomfortable.
“Hey, Kasugai.”
This time, I was called from the classroom entrance.
Standing there was Natsume.
In her right hand was a roll from the school store, and in her left, a sports drink.
“It’s not lunch break.”
“I know. I just stopped by after morning practice.”
“So?”
“Can you come to the field after school today?”
“I have a part-time job.”
“Just ten minutes is enough.”
The usual lightheartedness had vanished from Natsume’s expression.
“Makabe Senpai’s girlfriend is coming to club practice today.”
“Oh…”
“I told you about this before. He said he wanted to introduce her to me.”
Come to think of it, it was today, wasn’t it?
“Do you think you can’t handle it alone?”
“I’ll say hello. I don’t plan on running away.”
Natsume gripped his sports drink bottle tightly.
“But after it’s over, I probably won’t be able to laugh.”
“Why don’t you ask Himuro or Shiina?”
“The two of them won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Because I want you to come, Kasugai.”
The classroom fell silent.
A few classmates were clearly eavesdropping on us.
“You said you’d listen until the very end, even if I lost, right?”
“I did say that.”
“Then take responsibility.”
“Fine. But just for ten minutes.”
“Alright.”
Natsume’s expression brightened instantly.
“Don’t fall for me just because you see me in my practice gear, okay?”
“What are you saying the week after a breakup?”
“It’s not like Makabe-senpai is the only guy out there anymore.”
Natsume glanced at me once, then quickly looked away.
“Lately, I’ve started to feel that way just a little bit.”
Leaving it at that, Natsume headed back to her classroom.
“Kasugai-kun.”
“What is it now?”
“I’ll be joining you after school as well.”
“Himuro, you’re on the student council, aren’t you?”
“I’ll make sure to delay the start of our work by a good ten minutes.”
“Natsume said she wanted me to come.”
“That’s exactly why.”
Himuro stared down the hallway with a stern expression.
“It’s dangerous for a woman who’s been hurt—and is in a vulnerable mental state—to be alone with you, Kasugai-kun.”
“What’s so dangerous about it?”
“Mainly, Kasugai-kun’s lack of caution.”
I don’t intend to do anything.
Even Natsume just doesn’t want to be alone after saying hello to the girlfriend of the guy who “dumped” him
I thought it was just something like that.
♦
After school.
The track and field team was practicing on the field.
Himuro and I were watching the practice from a spot along the school building where we wouldn’t get in the way.
“So you really did come.”
“I told you. It’s a promise I made to Natsume.”
“I’m saying you didn’t need to come by yourself, Kasugai-kun.”
“It’s the same thing, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not.”
She didn’t explain what the difference was.
After a while, the practice was interrupted.
A woman who looked to be a college student entered through the entrance to the field.
She was a beautiful woman with a calm demeanor, her long hair tied back in a single ponytail.
The moment she saw her, Natsume froze.
“Makabe-kun.”
When the woman waved, Makabe-senpai ran over with a smile.
His expression was slightly different from the one he usually showed at school.
It was a smile free of tension—the kind he reserved only for those closest to him.
That alone conveyed how much time the two of them had spent together.
“Let me introduce you. This is Misaki—my girlfriend.”
Makabe Senpai gathered the club members and happily introduced the woman.
Natsume was also standing in that circle.
“Nice to meet you. Makabe is always under your care.”
“Likewise—Haruki’s always been helping out with practice.”
“Haruki-chan?”
Called by her name, Natsume stepped forward.
“I’m Haruki Natsume! Makabe-senpai, I’ve been relying on him for so long!”
Her voice was cheerful.
Just like the Natsume we always knew.
“I’ve heard the stories. That there’s a really fast underclassman.”
“Oh, it’s nothing special!”
“Makabe-kun often praises you, Haruki-chan. He says you’re a hard worker, and that he’d feel confident leaving the club in your hands even after he retires.”
“……Is that so?”
Natsume’s smile wavered for just a moment.
To be recognized by the person she had liked.
Normally, those would be words to be happy about.
But for Natsume right now, they also served as a stark reminder that she hadn’t been chosen as his girlfriend.
“Please keep getting along well with Makabe-kun from now on, too.”
“Yes. Of course.”
Natsume didn’t cry until the very end.
She played the part of the cheerful underclassman and saw the two of them off with a smile.
When practice eventually resumed, Natsume said something to the coach and ran over to us.
“I got a ten-minute break.”
“Good job.”
“How did it go? You managed to smile properly, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Was it perfect?”
“It was perfect.”
“I see.”
Natsume smiled.
The next moment, big tears were streaming down her face.
“That’s weird. It was perfect, though.”
Natsume frantically wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
“I was just glad to see you looking so happy, Senpai. I really was. But when I realized that you could so easily give that person the smile I’d been longing for…”
“You don’t have to force yourself.”
“But I have to get back to club practice.”
“We’ve still got ten minutes left, right?”
“If I don’t stop crying, everyone will find out.”
“Then hide.”
I stepped in front of Natsume, blocking her face from view from the field.
Natsume grabbed the hem of my uniform.
“Stay like this just a little longer.”
“Okay.”
No words came from Himuro, who was standing behind us.
She just stood there silently by our side until Natsume stopped crying.
“…Himuro, thanks, too.”
Natsume said, sniffling.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Aren’t you going to say you want to have Kasugai all to yourself?”
“I’m not that mean—at least not enough to say that to you right now.”
“You’d say it if it weren’t right now.”
Natsume smiled slightly, even as tears streamed down her face.
“Kasugai.”
“What?”
“I’m going to stop liking Makabe-senpai.”
“Can you just decide that so easily?”
“I can’t do it right away. But I’ll try my best to stop.”
Natsume gripped my uniform even tighter.
“In exchange, the next person I fall for will be someone who actually pays attention to me.”
“You should do that.”
“……You really don’t get it, do you?”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
Natsume let go of my uniform and took a deep breath.
Her eyes were still red, but her expression was lighter than before.
“I’m heading back now. Wait for me at your part-time job.”
“Are you coming in today, too?”
“I need a jumbo parfait today.”
“Pay for it yourself.”
“At least treat me today!”
She shouted that as she headed back toward the field.
As I watched her back disappear, Himuro came and stood beside me.
“Kasugai-kun.”
“Hm?”
“From now on, you’re not allowed to let girls grab your uniform.”
“I didn’t make her grab it.”
“Then, if she grabs it, please let go.”
“That’s impossible when she’s crying.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
Himuro let out a deep sigh.
“Seriously, I can’t let my guard down around you.”
That day at “Anemone,” Natsume ordered the biggest parfait they’d ever served.
And Himuro never once gave up the seat across from her.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !